Method of forming metal containers



Feb. 18, 1936. J. F. wERDER 2,031,085

METHOD OF FORMING METAL CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 9, 1931 Fig. 4.

NVENTOR BY 'nf/I/rder A TTORNE YS Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES METHOD OF FORMING METAL CONTAINERS John F. Werder, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Edmund Rogers, South Euclid,

Ohio

Application January 9, 1931, Serial No. 507,711

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of metal containers.

The present container which is of cylindrical form is adapted for any purpose but is especially useful in the packaging of a fluid under pressure, either gas or liquid, as for instance a gas-charged lubricant.

Experience has shown that the ordinary form of metal container will break at the joints when 1 subjected to such substantial internal pressure, with the result that the pressure, as well as the liquid contents, are lost. Such failure of the joints, especially the longitudinal seam of the body portion, has been due to thefact that the internal pressure tends naturally to give to the body of the container a form approaching that of a sphere, since the pressure is exerted radially and equally in all directions.

'I'he present applicant has discovered that the most eicient form of cylindrical container for this purpose is one in which the entire body portion thereof is given as nearly as possible a truly cylindrical form throughout its entire extent prior to the introduction of the gas-charged lubricant or other iluid under pressure. Having given to the main body of the container such cylindrical form throughout its entire circumference, including the region of the joint, the only strain to which the joint region will be subjected by the internal pressure will be in a'circurnferential direction since the contour of the body has already been pre-formed according to the natural tendency of the force of such pressure.

'I'he object of the present invention therefore consists in devising an improved method of forming a metal container especially with respect to the longitudinal joint with the View of preventing the same from yielding to any such circumferential strain, as above referred to, as well as any other strain from the internal pressure.

A further object consists in devising a method for facilitating the forming of the body into a cylindrical shape and in determining the proper relative overlapping arrangement of the portions of the longitudinal joint.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the manner of applying the cylindrical body of the container to the mandrel during the period of formation; Fig. 2 is a side View of the same; Fig. 3 is a side View of the completed container with the new form of longitudinal joint; and Fig. 4 is a view of the strip of metal prior to its being formed mandrel.

According to the present invention, the metal strip I, as for instance, tin plate, is severed from the stock and is either before or afterward provided with the series of holes 2 across the one end portion thereof and the corresponding integrally formed embossed portions 3 arranged across the other end thereof at the same intervals and of proper size to extend through the openings 2. The strip I is cut of the proper length according to the size of container desired so that upon then forming this strip in curved form upon the mandrel, it will assume proper cylindrical shape and the registry of the holes 2 and the embossed portions 3 will determine the proper overlapping relation of the marginal edge portions and the size of cylindrical body desired.

Instead of providing a mandrel for engagement with the entire strip I, it is suiiicient for only the marginal portions thereof to be engaged upon the mandrel 4 with the embossed portions 3 extending upwardly through the holes 2. The mandrel 4 may be supported upon any suitable form of frame structure Ila so as to conveniently permit the application of the metal strip I and the removal of the cylindrical body therefrom. Cooperating with the mandrel 4 are the strips 5 which extend the full length of the cylindrically formed body portion and which are located upon opposite sides of the row of embossed portions 3. The one strip 5 engages the very edge portion of the outer overlapping part of the joint while the other strip 5 occupies like position with respect to the edge portion of the under part of the joint. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Any suitable lever mechanism 5a may be employed for operating the strips 5. The strips 5, as Well as the mandrel 4, may consist of asbestos so as to prevent radiation and loss of heat from the soldering ironwhich is applied along the middle part of the joint after the application of solder thereto. 'I'he solder is applied by means of a ribbon along the middle part of the joint and over the row of apertures 2 and embossed portions 3. The heated iron is then drawn over this ribbon so `as to cause the solder to find its way through the holes 2, around the embossed portions 3, and into the space between the overlapping portions of the joint throughout their entire extent. As a result, the

upon the solder will not only seal together the overlapping l portions of the joint throughout the entire area beween their very edges but the solder will also ll the space in the holes about the embossed portions 3 so as to seal the same. 'Ihese embossed portions are of such size that they will extend into the openings 2 so as to prevent any accidental disengagement of the joint circuxnferentially but Without causing any objectionable protuberance upon the outer surface of the container.

Upon completion of the cylindrical body, the end heads may be applied thereto in any suitable manner, and one of the heads may be provided with a valve for filling and discharging purposes.

It is to be understood that the mandrel and strips 5 are of such form that the entire joint region when engaged thereby will assume a form corresponding to the curvature of a perfect cylinder so as to preclude the danger of any breaking of the joint upon application of internal pressure, as above explained.

One of the principal advantages resulting from the present invention resides in the fact that the longitudinal joint is proof against any failure cireumferentially of the container, this being due to the interlocking engagement between the embossed portions 3 and the apertures 2. as well as the solder between the overlapping portions This connection virtually constitutes a rivet-like engagement between these overlapping portions which is still further strengthened and sealed by the solder within the openings 2 and round the embossed portions 3.

Another advantage consists in the facility with which the body portion may be formed into the desired cylindrical shape and of the proper size according to predetermined calculations.

Thus, there is devised a comparatively simple and yet extremely eflicient method of forming a metal container which is well adapted for the purpose intended.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making a metal container body consisting in forming corresponding unbroken embossed projections and apertures respectively in the two end portions of a strip oi metal of proper length for the body to be formed,

closing the strip so as to form an overlapping joint with the projections engaging in the apertures, clamping the joint along the two sides of the registering projections and apertures and leaving access to the projections and apertures and applying solder to the joint through the apertures while in such clamped condition.

2. The method of making a metal container body consisting in forming corresponding unbroken embossed projections and apertures respectively in the two end portions of a strip of metal of proper length for the body to be formed, closing the strip so as to form an overlapping joint with the projections engaging in the apertures, clamping the joint along the two sides of the registering projections and apertures so as to hold the overlapping portions in effective engagement to the extreme edges thereof and leaving access to the projections and apertures, and applying solder to the joint through the apertures while in such clamped condition.

3. The method of manufacturing the cylindrical body of a sheet metal container having a soldered side seam and suitable to withstand relatively high internal pressure, consisting in vforming said body with apertures in that portion of the metal which will become the outside of the side seam so that flux and solder will flow through said apertures to the innermost portion of the side seam, forming one or more embosures upon that portion of the blank which is to become the inner part of the side seam so as to register with one or more of the apertures thereof, shaping said blank into body form by overlapping the ends so that the apertures are on the outside, and compressing said ends together with embosure and aperture registration so as to thereby maintain the joint portions in correct position, and applying flux and solder through the apertures to the innermost portion of the side seam.

JOHN F. WERDER. 

